The Deputy-Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, contributed to Mandela Week last week by launching an eco-tourism and greenery project in Giyani through the planting of trees.

The trees were planted at a school notorious for mass pregnancies and destitute families.

She visited Mavalani High at Mavalani outside Giyani, where she planted trees and left seeds to be planted. She also visited the Rikhotso household in Giyani, which has no breadwinner, and planted trees and left implements.

She said this was part of the Limpopo Eco-tourism and Greenery Project to the value of R190, 6-million. “We are going to put up bins, upgrade toilets, improve public places and stalls for hawkers,” she said.

She said what her department was doing was in keeping with the legacy left by Nelson Mandela of selfless service to the community. According to her, visiting destitute families and the school was a way of making a meaningful contribution.

The greenery project is part of the Environmental Affairs Extended Public Works Programme and it will create 500 job opportunities in Giyani. “The purpose is to develop skills and encourage initiatives that provide jobs,” she said. It will also complement the waste services offered by the municipality.